Mitch
Crawled Through 5 FB Fields
Here we are one year removed from the greatest weekend in Arizona Cardinals' history. At this time last year we were stocking our refridgerators with every conceivable goody in anticipation of our beloved Cardinals playing in their first ever Super Bowl.
The long-time Cardinal fans who had managed to hang in there in support of a franchise that was one of the perennial laughing stocks of the NFL...those of us who had withstood all the yearly ridicules from friends and family, were now receiving "I'm rooting for your Cardinals" phone calls from those same friends and family...a reality that was too surreal to even fathom...but one that thrilled all of us beyond our wildest football dreams.
The amazing thing is...we might very well owe all of that joy to one incredible, unexpected touchdown pass...and all the events that ensued after it.
That TD pass?
Rewind to December 28, 2003...the hapless 3-12 Cardinals were playing their last game of the season at home versus the 9-6 Vikings...a prolific Viking team that was led by QB Daunte Culpepper and WR Randy Moss.
The funny thing is: the Vikings had all the incentive in the world to win the game because it meant securing a playoff bid.
Perhaps even more funny is: the Cardinals had all the incentive in the world to lose the game---because if the Cardinals lose the game they would secure the number one pick in the 2004 NFL Draft and the opportunity to select QB Eli Manning.
Some pundits and fans were even calling the game "The Eli Bowl."
But, as predictably poor as the Cardinals were that year, they were unpredictably resolved to pull off one of the season's most startling upsets...which, they managed to do in the last seconds of the game when a scrambling and harrassed Josh McCown scooted to his right, cocked the ball and fired it to the back corner of the right endzone, where Nate Poole, a WR who had previously been cut and re-signed a hilarious number of times, reached his arms up, cleanly plucked the ball with his hands out of mid-air and adroitly managed to tap his toes into the last possible blades of green grass contiguous to the white chalk of the endzone...which meant: The Cardinals won the game 18-17; The Vikings were knocked out of the playoffs; The Cardinals would not be picking first in the 2004 Draft.
So how did this TD pass ironically send the Cardinals on a five year path to the Super Bowl?
Some of you may already be thinking of the ramifications. But, when you trace all the curious occurrences that ensued following the McCown to Poole TD that caused the Cardinals to spiral toward the Super Bowl, it's one of the more uncanny set of circumstances in NFL history.
Well here they are:
1. The Manning Edict: On draft day, in a thoroughly bizarre and unprecedented series of postures and maneuverings, the Manning Family, headed by Papa Archie and Big Bruh Peyton, are adamant that L'il Eli will not play for the San Diego Chargers---who own the first pick of the draft.
One, at this point, had to wonder if the Mannings would have placed the same albatross around the necks of the Cardinals had the Cardinals secured the first pick...but, at least the Cardinals did not have to suffer that public humiliation the way the Chargers did. Although, what if the Mannings were cool with the Cardinals? No one may ever know.
What we all do know is that the Chargers momentarily defied the Manning's edict and went ahead and picked Eli...who then donned the Chargers' cap and jersey with the awkward countenance of a teenage girl in Macy's who has just walked out of the dressing room in a gaudy over-sized prom dress.
Then, of course, we learn within the hour that the New York Giants selected QB Phillip Rivers and swapped him for L'il Eli...and now we see genuine smiles all around from underneath the newest caps.
2. Minnesota Fats. Not only did the Cardinals beat the Vikings to send the Vikings home to the snowy lakes...the Cardinals replace Dave McGinnis with ex-Viking kingpin and hustler, Denny Green, who had been languishing for a few years as an ESPN NFL Gameday commentator.
Green immediately tried to instill the Arizona fans' confidence by showing up at his first press conference with colorful pie charts detailing his history as an NFL Offensive genius, and reassuring the fans that with Denny Green you can count on a Top 5 Offensive juggernaut. Green's temerity was about as audacious as another infamous Denny's: yup, the unctuous law attorney, Denny Crane.
As fans we were wondering how Denny was going to pull off a top 5 offense with Jeff Blake and Josh McCown as the team's top QBs. Many of us were lamenting the missed opportunity to draft the consensus #1 pick in the draft, Eli Manning. Yet, while some pundits were questioning Phillip Rivers' sidearm delivery...while others were lauding his 4-0 career Bowl record at North Carolina State...as Cardinal fans hungry for a franchise QB, many were hoping Rivers could be the one.
But...Denny instead turned to his Minnesota Fats instincts of finesse...and while Mel Kiper was ripping his hair out still trying to figure out why in the world the Chargers went ahead and drafted Eli Manning...Denny went ahead and passed on Rivers in favor of drafting his old ballboy in Minnesota, WR Larry Fitzgerald.
This selection sent Mel into a further tizzy..."The Cardinals already have a Pro Bowl WR in Anquan Boldin, but they don't have a QB. Who's going to throw Boldin and Fitzgerald the ball? Denny really blew it on this one. Maybe he should have stuck with fishing!" (note: this is embellished)
3. Time Warner. This is where all rivers arrive at a stunning confluence...and like Henry David Thoreau wrote: "Time is but the stream I go a-fishing in."
The Giants, fresh off of winning the prize catch of the 2004 draft, QB Eli Manning, and the generous support of Papa Archie and Big Bruh...decide they need to give the young fella time to ease his way into the starting lineup...so they go ahead and sign the venerable Kurt Warner to be the starter while Eli develops. Many pundits concur this is a very good move by the Giants in that perhaps Warner can regain his St. Louis form and all the while be an inspirational mentor to L'il Eli.
The plan is an intial success, as Warner wins 5 of the first 8 games and has the Giants in good position for a playoff berth. Warner's play, however, looks a little flawed, as he seems far too tentaive at times and when he holds onto the ball longer than usual he is prone to getting sacked, and even worse, Coughling-up fumbles.
Coming into their 9th game of the season the Giants had won 5 of their last 7 and had won 3 road games in a row. The team was looking pretty solid and Warner was doing his part. But...when fans see their Golden Boy QBOF passing on the sidelines, they get anxious. And apparently so do some head coaches.
So, who do the Giants play in week 9? You got it. Minnesota Fats and the Arizona Cardinals in Tempe.
Despite holding Denny's Top 5 Offensive Juggernaut to a mere 191 yards of total offense, Kurt Warner is sacked 6 times (4 times by Bertrand Berry) and the Giants lose 17-14. (BTW---Larry Fitzgerald caught one pass in that game for 3 yards).
In Week 10 Tom Coughlin relegates Warner to the bench in favor bringing on Lil Eli. Warner takes his benching as graciously as any fierce competitor could. The pundits are applauding the move because most of them are convinced that Warner is dead in the water. Finished. Kaput.
Young Eli starts the next seven games...loses 6 of them...and the Giants finish 6-12. However, Coughlin's move, depsite the intial drawbacks, would turn out to spiral the Giants toward their own Super Bowl path, culminating in their stunning upset victory over the 18-0 New England Patriots in Super Bowl XLII.
Meanwhile, while Kurt Warner started his last game of 2004 in Arizona as a New York Giant and was left by many for dead after that game, Denny Green signs Warner in 2005 to what turned out to be a year later an almost identical gig in Arizona...save that the Cardinals' version of the Golden Boy QBOF Matt Leinart was taken 10th and not 1st in the 2006 Draft.
Warner in Arizona does little to prove he's the player he once was...much the same as in New York...and Leinart is ushered into the starting lineup faster than originally anticipated. Yet, Warner remains humble and gracious. Perhaps this time even moreso.
The Wonderful Whiz. Ken Whisenhunt, the prolific offensive coordinator of the Pittsburgh Steelers who helped lead the Steelers to victory in Super Bowl XLI---projected as the logical successor to the retiring icon---elects to take the head coaching lob in Arizona while the Steelers were still making up their minds on their new head coach. Bold move.
Whisenhunt decides during his first year to create a role for Kurt Warner as the team's change-of-pace hurry-up QB. Matt Leinart starts the games---and when the offense stalls---in comes Warner and bang bang bang he's marching the team down the field in the hurry-up.
Coincidentally the Cardinals start to come of age in a game at home versus the Steelers when Whiz's 5th round draft pick Stevie Breaston takes a punt to the house, Leinart starts and struggles some, Warner relieves and marches the team to the lead and then Leinart finishes with a good, win-sealing drive. The new stadium is electric. Suddenly good things are happening in Arizona.
More coincidentally, Leinart is hurt versus Warner's old team the Rams and is lost for the season. Warner---despite badly injuring his left elbow himself and having to play with essentuially one arm---takes over and leads the team to a 5-3 record over the last 8 games and is putting up an unheard of (at least previously in Arizona) 27 points per game.
Following the season, Whiz announces that Matt Leinart would be the starting QB for the upcoming season. But, Warner has gathered some new belief from the fans and even the ESPN pundits who had written him off---as Warner tactfully addresses Whiz's QB decision to the ESPN crew during a nationally televised pre-season game, coincidentally against the New Orleans Saints. In this game, Warner is not even expected to play.
Yet, Leinart a little more than two weeks later struggles mightily against the Raiders...and then almost immediately ESPN jumps in on the situation and reports that Whiz would be turning back to Warner as the starting QB. Whiz is infuriated by the ESPN specualtion and waits until the early days of the first game week to confirm what ESPN had suspected.
Suddenly, the Cardinals are developing into a dynamic offense with Warner throwing to what would turn out to be a trio of 1,000 yard receivers: Larry Fitzgerald, Anquan Boldin and Steve Breaston.
Suddenly, the Cardinals look invincible at home.
Suddenly the Cardinals are going to win the NFC West for the first time ever.
Then there was the now infamous three game late season meltdown which caused Chris Collingsworth to deem the Cardinals as "the worst playoff team ever."
Then there came Whiz's supremely timely and effective Christmas Day wakeup practice.
Then a stunning 30-24 home win versus the Falcons in round one of the playoffs.
Then an even more stunning rare East Coast 33-13 road win at Carolina...and the stars start falling in place as on that same weekend the Eagles knock off Eli and the #1 seeded Giants at the Meadowlands. The NFC Championship: Philadelphia at Arizona. Wow!
And then despite coming out hotter than a firecracker in the NFC Championship game with the home fans screaming out of their minds, the Cardinals squander a big lead and have to put together a long clutch, time consuming TD drive to win the game and the NFC Championship. They pull it off with aplomb!
The red and white confetti streams gloriously down from the U of P rafters showering the exhuberant teary-eyed players and fans...the Arizona Cardinals are going to the Super Bowl.
Coincidentally, who do they play? The Steelers.
Even more coincidentally, that despite taking a shocking 23-20 lead with a mere 2:37 on an electrifing quick hitting skinny post from Warner to Fitzgerald that Fitzgerald raced with straight up the middle of the Steelers' vaunted defense looking like a motorboat leaving sailboats in its wake, the Cardinals lose the game on a play that looks curiously familiar to the play that started the 5 year Cardinal run to the Super Bowl, when Big Ben Roethlisberger steps up to his right and fires a pass to the back right corner of the end zone where Steelers' WR Antonio Holmes reaches up, cleanly plucks the ball out of mid-air with his hands and deftly taps his toes into the last blades of green grass contiguous to the white chalk of the end zone.
Upon further review...did Holmes' right toe ever actually touch the turf or did it remain tucked to the back of his left cleat?
In any event, when people talk about the proverbial "ifs"...
Maybe we should be more thankful of Josh McCown and Nate Poole after all.
The long-time Cardinal fans who had managed to hang in there in support of a franchise that was one of the perennial laughing stocks of the NFL...those of us who had withstood all the yearly ridicules from friends and family, were now receiving "I'm rooting for your Cardinals" phone calls from those same friends and family...a reality that was too surreal to even fathom...but one that thrilled all of us beyond our wildest football dreams.
The amazing thing is...we might very well owe all of that joy to one incredible, unexpected touchdown pass...and all the events that ensued after it.
That TD pass?
Rewind to December 28, 2003...the hapless 3-12 Cardinals were playing their last game of the season at home versus the 9-6 Vikings...a prolific Viking team that was led by QB Daunte Culpepper and WR Randy Moss.
The funny thing is: the Vikings had all the incentive in the world to win the game because it meant securing a playoff bid.
Perhaps even more funny is: the Cardinals had all the incentive in the world to lose the game---because if the Cardinals lose the game they would secure the number one pick in the 2004 NFL Draft and the opportunity to select QB Eli Manning.
Some pundits and fans were even calling the game "The Eli Bowl."
But, as predictably poor as the Cardinals were that year, they were unpredictably resolved to pull off one of the season's most startling upsets...which, they managed to do in the last seconds of the game when a scrambling and harrassed Josh McCown scooted to his right, cocked the ball and fired it to the back corner of the right endzone, where Nate Poole, a WR who had previously been cut and re-signed a hilarious number of times, reached his arms up, cleanly plucked the ball with his hands out of mid-air and adroitly managed to tap his toes into the last possible blades of green grass contiguous to the white chalk of the endzone...which meant: The Cardinals won the game 18-17; The Vikings were knocked out of the playoffs; The Cardinals would not be picking first in the 2004 Draft.
So how did this TD pass ironically send the Cardinals on a five year path to the Super Bowl?
Some of you may already be thinking of the ramifications. But, when you trace all the curious occurrences that ensued following the McCown to Poole TD that caused the Cardinals to spiral toward the Super Bowl, it's one of the more uncanny set of circumstances in NFL history.
Well here they are:
1. The Manning Edict: On draft day, in a thoroughly bizarre and unprecedented series of postures and maneuverings, the Manning Family, headed by Papa Archie and Big Bruh Peyton, are adamant that L'il Eli will not play for the San Diego Chargers---who own the first pick of the draft.
One, at this point, had to wonder if the Mannings would have placed the same albatross around the necks of the Cardinals had the Cardinals secured the first pick...but, at least the Cardinals did not have to suffer that public humiliation the way the Chargers did. Although, what if the Mannings were cool with the Cardinals? No one may ever know.
What we all do know is that the Chargers momentarily defied the Manning's edict and went ahead and picked Eli...who then donned the Chargers' cap and jersey with the awkward countenance of a teenage girl in Macy's who has just walked out of the dressing room in a gaudy over-sized prom dress.
Then, of course, we learn within the hour that the New York Giants selected QB Phillip Rivers and swapped him for L'il Eli...and now we see genuine smiles all around from underneath the newest caps.
2. Minnesota Fats. Not only did the Cardinals beat the Vikings to send the Vikings home to the snowy lakes...the Cardinals replace Dave McGinnis with ex-Viking kingpin and hustler, Denny Green, who had been languishing for a few years as an ESPN NFL Gameday commentator.
Green immediately tried to instill the Arizona fans' confidence by showing up at his first press conference with colorful pie charts detailing his history as an NFL Offensive genius, and reassuring the fans that with Denny Green you can count on a Top 5 Offensive juggernaut. Green's temerity was about as audacious as another infamous Denny's: yup, the unctuous law attorney, Denny Crane.
As fans we were wondering how Denny was going to pull off a top 5 offense with Jeff Blake and Josh McCown as the team's top QBs. Many of us were lamenting the missed opportunity to draft the consensus #1 pick in the draft, Eli Manning. Yet, while some pundits were questioning Phillip Rivers' sidearm delivery...while others were lauding his 4-0 career Bowl record at North Carolina State...as Cardinal fans hungry for a franchise QB, many were hoping Rivers could be the one.
But...Denny instead turned to his Minnesota Fats instincts of finesse...and while Mel Kiper was ripping his hair out still trying to figure out why in the world the Chargers went ahead and drafted Eli Manning...Denny went ahead and passed on Rivers in favor of drafting his old ballboy in Minnesota, WR Larry Fitzgerald.
This selection sent Mel into a further tizzy..."The Cardinals already have a Pro Bowl WR in Anquan Boldin, but they don't have a QB. Who's going to throw Boldin and Fitzgerald the ball? Denny really blew it on this one. Maybe he should have stuck with fishing!" (note: this is embellished)
3. Time Warner. This is where all rivers arrive at a stunning confluence...and like Henry David Thoreau wrote: "Time is but the stream I go a-fishing in."
The Giants, fresh off of winning the prize catch of the 2004 draft, QB Eli Manning, and the generous support of Papa Archie and Big Bruh...decide they need to give the young fella time to ease his way into the starting lineup...so they go ahead and sign the venerable Kurt Warner to be the starter while Eli develops. Many pundits concur this is a very good move by the Giants in that perhaps Warner can regain his St. Louis form and all the while be an inspirational mentor to L'il Eli.
The plan is an intial success, as Warner wins 5 of the first 8 games and has the Giants in good position for a playoff berth. Warner's play, however, looks a little flawed, as he seems far too tentaive at times and when he holds onto the ball longer than usual he is prone to getting sacked, and even worse, Coughling-up fumbles.
Coming into their 9th game of the season the Giants had won 5 of their last 7 and had won 3 road games in a row. The team was looking pretty solid and Warner was doing his part. But...when fans see their Golden Boy QBOF passing on the sidelines, they get anxious. And apparently so do some head coaches.
So, who do the Giants play in week 9? You got it. Minnesota Fats and the Arizona Cardinals in Tempe.
Despite holding Denny's Top 5 Offensive Juggernaut to a mere 191 yards of total offense, Kurt Warner is sacked 6 times (4 times by Bertrand Berry) and the Giants lose 17-14. (BTW---Larry Fitzgerald caught one pass in that game for 3 yards).
In Week 10 Tom Coughlin relegates Warner to the bench in favor bringing on Lil Eli. Warner takes his benching as graciously as any fierce competitor could. The pundits are applauding the move because most of them are convinced that Warner is dead in the water. Finished. Kaput.
Young Eli starts the next seven games...loses 6 of them...and the Giants finish 6-12. However, Coughlin's move, depsite the intial drawbacks, would turn out to spiral the Giants toward their own Super Bowl path, culminating in their stunning upset victory over the 18-0 New England Patriots in Super Bowl XLII.
Meanwhile, while Kurt Warner started his last game of 2004 in Arizona as a New York Giant and was left by many for dead after that game, Denny Green signs Warner in 2005 to what turned out to be a year later an almost identical gig in Arizona...save that the Cardinals' version of the Golden Boy QBOF Matt Leinart was taken 10th and not 1st in the 2006 Draft.
Warner in Arizona does little to prove he's the player he once was...much the same as in New York...and Leinart is ushered into the starting lineup faster than originally anticipated. Yet, Warner remains humble and gracious. Perhaps this time even moreso.
The Wonderful Whiz. Ken Whisenhunt, the prolific offensive coordinator of the Pittsburgh Steelers who helped lead the Steelers to victory in Super Bowl XLI---projected as the logical successor to the retiring icon---elects to take the head coaching lob in Arizona while the Steelers were still making up their minds on their new head coach. Bold move.
Whisenhunt decides during his first year to create a role for Kurt Warner as the team's change-of-pace hurry-up QB. Matt Leinart starts the games---and when the offense stalls---in comes Warner and bang bang bang he's marching the team down the field in the hurry-up.
Coincidentally the Cardinals start to come of age in a game at home versus the Steelers when Whiz's 5th round draft pick Stevie Breaston takes a punt to the house, Leinart starts and struggles some, Warner relieves and marches the team to the lead and then Leinart finishes with a good, win-sealing drive. The new stadium is electric. Suddenly good things are happening in Arizona.
More coincidentally, Leinart is hurt versus Warner's old team the Rams and is lost for the season. Warner---despite badly injuring his left elbow himself and having to play with essentuially one arm---takes over and leads the team to a 5-3 record over the last 8 games and is putting up an unheard of (at least previously in Arizona) 27 points per game.
Following the season, Whiz announces that Matt Leinart would be the starting QB for the upcoming season. But, Warner has gathered some new belief from the fans and even the ESPN pundits who had written him off---as Warner tactfully addresses Whiz's QB decision to the ESPN crew during a nationally televised pre-season game, coincidentally against the New Orleans Saints. In this game, Warner is not even expected to play.
Yet, Leinart a little more than two weeks later struggles mightily against the Raiders...and then almost immediately ESPN jumps in on the situation and reports that Whiz would be turning back to Warner as the starting QB. Whiz is infuriated by the ESPN specualtion and waits until the early days of the first game week to confirm what ESPN had suspected.
Suddenly, the Cardinals are developing into a dynamic offense with Warner throwing to what would turn out to be a trio of 1,000 yard receivers: Larry Fitzgerald, Anquan Boldin and Steve Breaston.
Suddenly, the Cardinals look invincible at home.
Suddenly the Cardinals are going to win the NFC West for the first time ever.
Then there was the now infamous three game late season meltdown which caused Chris Collingsworth to deem the Cardinals as "the worst playoff team ever."
Then there came Whiz's supremely timely and effective Christmas Day wakeup practice.
Then a stunning 30-24 home win versus the Falcons in round one of the playoffs.
Then an even more stunning rare East Coast 33-13 road win at Carolina...and the stars start falling in place as on that same weekend the Eagles knock off Eli and the #1 seeded Giants at the Meadowlands. The NFC Championship: Philadelphia at Arizona. Wow!
And then despite coming out hotter than a firecracker in the NFC Championship game with the home fans screaming out of their minds, the Cardinals squander a big lead and have to put together a long clutch, time consuming TD drive to win the game and the NFC Championship. They pull it off with aplomb!
The red and white confetti streams gloriously down from the U of P rafters showering the exhuberant teary-eyed players and fans...the Arizona Cardinals are going to the Super Bowl.
Coincidentally, who do they play? The Steelers.
Even more coincidentally, that despite taking a shocking 23-20 lead with a mere 2:37 on an electrifing quick hitting skinny post from Warner to Fitzgerald that Fitzgerald raced with straight up the middle of the Steelers' vaunted defense looking like a motorboat leaving sailboats in its wake, the Cardinals lose the game on a play that looks curiously familiar to the play that started the 5 year Cardinal run to the Super Bowl, when Big Ben Roethlisberger steps up to his right and fires a pass to the back right corner of the end zone where Steelers' WR Antonio Holmes reaches up, cleanly plucks the ball out of mid-air with his hands and deftly taps his toes into the last blades of green grass contiguous to the white chalk of the end zone.
Upon further review...did Holmes' right toe ever actually touch the turf or did it remain tucked to the back of his left cleat?
In any event, when people talk about the proverbial "ifs"...
Maybe we should be more thankful of Josh McCown and Nate Poole after all.
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